Stopple or cork for bottles.



UNrrnD STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

FERNAND SAIJOMON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE lV. EVANS, TRUSTEE, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOPPLE OR CORK FOR BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part` of :LettersvPatent NO. 650,615, dated May 29, 1900. Application filed December 7,1899.v Serial No. 739,573. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom ir' may concer/2,:

Be it known that I, FERNAND SALOMON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented new and useful Improvements in Stopples or Oorks for Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction of stopple or cork for bottles, the same being preferably composed of rubber, composition, or analogous plastic or iiexible materialor cork; and the object is to produce a stopple which will be adaptable to the necks of bottles whose diameters may vary in size.

To thisend my invention consists of a stopple the exterior of which is provided with a plurality of annular steps the diameters of which differ or gradually decrease from the top to the bottom of the stopple, so that each step will snugly fit the necks of bottles whose diameters may or may nearly correspond therewith. Y

Heretofore it has been the custom to provide stopples for bottles of various sizes the external taperings of which are also varied to suit differing conditions and requirements. Now by my invention I provide -a stopple which in itself is capable of fitting the necks of bottles whose diameters may Vary more or less, thus obviatin g the necessity of providing more than one stopple to accommodate a Wide range in the sizes of bottles or vessels. At the same time the stopple is so constructed, as will be described, that it will impinge the necks thereof more firmly and effect a more secure closure.

The invention further consists of the novel features of construction to be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a stopple constructed according tomy invention. Fig. 2 represents a central section thereof, taken on the line 2, 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing my invention provided with an auxiliary stopple. Fig. 4 vshows a plan view looking from the bottom or smaller end of the stopple. Fi g. 5 represents the central section of a stopple having its extern al annular steps 4f cylindrical shape.

' the opening 3, as shown.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. A

Referring to said drawings, l represents the stopple, which may be of any desired size, and

2 designates a plu rali ty of annularly-arran ged steps, the diameters of the latter becomingl gradually reduced as 'they reach thebottom of the stopple.

It will be observed byreferring to Fig. 2 that the annular steps 2 incline or taper inwardly from theirlower edges to a point where they adjoin each succeeding step. Thus as the stopple is forced into the bottle the lower edge of the step will necessarily contract and will afterward serve to impinge the interior of the neck with greater firmness. It will of course be obvious that this tapering or inelination of the steps 2 may be dispensed with, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, Where the diameter of each step with respect to itself is the same throughout, or thesteps, if desired, may be so constructed as to reverse their inclination; but I have found more practical results gained by forming them as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings; but I reserve the right to make the above-mentioned changes and such others as may be held to fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the stopple l, provided with an opening 3, which extends through the same from top to bottom, the

lower extremity 4 of said opening being contracted, as shown, for a portion of its length, While the upper extremity preferably tapers outwardly to assume the form of an inverted cone. 5 designates an auxiliary stopple having an enlarged head, from which projects a shank or extension 6, the lower end of the latter being intended to fit the contracted end 4 of the opening 3, and thus retain said stopple 5 in position, it being understood,of course, that the head will be sufficiently large to cover It will thus be apparent that while the stopple l, just described, may be fitted to the necks of bottles Whose diameters may vary considerably it will only be necessary to provide one size of auxiliary.

ICO

pinges the neck of the bottle will bear upon the upper face of said neck and form a double closure for the same.

My invention also includes in its"'scope a 5 'stopple having a single step and an overhanging cap Where the single step decreases in di-Y ameter toward said cap. Thus in Fig. 2 the top step forms the cap and the first inclined stopper port-ion completes this construction ro so far as this part of my invention is con-l cerned. Vith this construction, as before stated, a double seal 4isettected---one by the stopper portion and one by the cap which contacts the upper surface of the neck of the receptacle. Where the steps of smaller diameter are used, the step immediately above it forms the overhanging cap and of course accomplishes the same purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what 2o I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patl ent, is as follows:

f. l. A stopper for bottles and the like, having its exterior provided with a plurality of annular steps, said steps being of different 2 5 diameters, and each step being of sufficient length to engage the walls of a bottle and to hold by its engagement the stopper in said bottle, and each step having an outer wall of elastic material adapted to form a stopper A 3c and to be radially compressed by its insertion into a bottle, to the limit of the elasticity of. the material forming the step.

. 2. A stopper for bottles and the like, havingits exterior provided with a plurality of annular steps formed of elastic material, said steps being of different diameters and having their surfaces inclined or tapered to form a v larger diameter at the edge of the steps away from the next larger step, and each stepV being adapted to form a stopper.

Il. A stopper for bottles and the like, having a stopper portion and an overhanging cap, the stopper portion having an outer wall of elastic material having a normal shape tapered and decreasing in diameter toward the cap, whereby the stopper portion may form a closure within the neck of the bottle and the cap portion may form a closure on the outer surface of the neck.

FERNAND SALOMON.

. Witnesses:

J .A. RENNIE, M. E. PLEIs. 

